January 2010

Vol 2, Issue 1

In this issue:

ASCEND Group Inc.
610-449-6776 info@ascendgroup.org www.ascendgroup.org

by Kate Altman

“Amy,” a college student on the autism spectrum, recently told me that, while having an ASD has provided many challenges in her life, it also helped her appreciate what it means to be “different.” For that, she is thankful. Amy observed that you don't need a diagnosis to be different. For example, she said, “Art students are kind of like us with autism, you know. They’re different. They live in their own little worlds. They’re more creative, just like people with ASDs are a lot more creative.”

At this point, Amy is grateful for her autism because it has helped her understand other people with challenges and want to reach out to them. Rather than wanting to change them, or getting frustrated by their behaviors, she has learned to accept them.

Amy said, “I’ve learned that I can’t change everything. I can’t control everything. And I’ve just learned to go with the flow.” Sounds like a good New Year's resolution.

Kate Altman, M.S., works as a psychotherapist at Alternative Choices, where she primarily treats adolescents and adults on the spectrum and leads a weekly support group for college-bound teens with ASD. She is completing her doctorate in Chestnut Hill College’s Psy.D. program. Note: This piece originally appeared as an Alternative Choices blog post.

20 New Year's resolutions for special needs parents
The One Place for Special Needs website put together a list of resolutions for parents. Read it here.

Workshop:
Surviving and Thriving on the Spectrum

Register now! Spaces are still available.

Who should go: Parents of kids recently diagnosed with ASD
When: THIS SUNDAY, 1.10.10, 2-4 p.m.
Where: Plymouth Meeting, PA
Fee: $5

Description: When your child is diagnosed on the autistic spectrum, you are faced with a maze of treatment options. At the same time, you need to navigate through your own complex and possibly painful emotions. In this workshop, we will talk about finding the most useful resources and supports for your child. We will also explore the emotional impact that your child’s diagnosis has upon you and your family, as well as the ongoing importance of self-care. This is a wonderful opportunity to get answers to some of your questions and concerns, as well as to connect to others with similar experiences.

About the Presenter: Sonia Voynow earned her MSW from Temple University and has worked as a psychotherapist in a variety of settings, including the Renfrew Center, Fox Chase Cancer Center, and The Family Health Psychology Center. She maintains a private practice, Surviving and Thriving, in Narberth, PA. As the parent of a child with ASD, Sonia is passionate about serving as a resource for parents who have children with special needs.

More info or reserve space: Contact Sonia via email or call 215-247-5832.

JANUARY SUPPORT MEETINGS
All parents and other adult family members or caregivers of children/ adolescents/adults with Asperger Syndrome and similar diagnoses are welcome to attend any of our support meetings.

1/12, 7:30pm—Delaware County, Havertown
1/13, 7pm—Chester County, West Grove
1/21, 7pm—Montgomery County, King of Prussia

Click here for additional details. Any changes to this schedule will be posted on the ASCEND website.

Next Steps Conference
01.27.10, 8:30 am – 3 pm
3535 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $20 (includes lunch & resource binder)
The Regional Autism Center and the Center for Autism Research at CHOP, along with Variety, invite you to an all-day conference on the next steps to take after receiving an ASD diagnosis. For more info, click here.

Strategies to Overcome Resistance in Adolescents
01.28.10, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Dolce Valley Forge Hotel, 301 West Dekalb Pike, King of Prussia, PA
Cost: $110
Presenter: Amy Jacob, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker in Middlesex County, NJ with a career history spanning 15 years of service to children, families, and child-serving organizations.
From the marketing materials: This workshop provides practical strategies for those who work with youth who are resistant to services. This dynamic, interactive program will include activities, video illustrations, personal stories, small group activities, and discussions. For more info, click here.

Valley Forge Educational Services: Special Kids Camp Expo
01.30.10, 1:00 – 4:00 pm
1681 North Valley Road, Malvern, PA
Cost: FREE
Showcases recreational and educational summer programs, and educates parents about the options available to their children with learning differences and/or special needs during the summer months. Additionally, year-round recreational programs will be represented. For more info, click here.

ASPEN Spring Conference
Preparation for the Real World: College, Relationships and Employment
03.21.10, 9am to 4:30 pm
Hilton Woodbridge, 120 Wood Ave. South, Iselin, NJ
Keynote presenter: Dr. Simon Baron-Cohen, Director of the Autism Research Center, Cambridge, UK. His topics will include Theory of Mind: Empathy and Systemizing; and The Fetal Testosterone Theory of Autism. Many great workshops, too. For more info, click here.


To have your event listed in ASCEND’s enewsletter, please visit our website and fill out the online event form.

Autism May Cluster Among Highly Educated

Business Week, 01.05.10

From the article: "California study finds a higher rate in neighborhoods with lots of college grads … Highly educated, older parents are more likely to have a child diagnosed with autism, a new study finds. Using data on about 2.5 million births in California in a five-year period, researchers identified 10 autism clusters, or geographical areas in which there was a higher than usual incidence of children diagnosed with the neurodevelopmental disability that's marked by impaired social and communication skills, and repetitive behaviors.”

East Brunswick man with autism, controversial advocate nominated to federal council
The Star-Ledger, 01.05.10

From the article: "Ari Ne’eman keeps a copy of the U.S. Constitution folded in his wallet. It’s a constant reminder that his 'war'—his advocacy and activism on behalf of people with autism—is worth fighting, even if it engenders controversy and the occasional death threat. … Eight years ago, the 22-year-old East Brunswick native was an unhappy, bullied child with few friends..."

Report: Evidence lacking for special diets in autism
USA Today, 01.04.10

From the article: "An expert panel says there's no rigorous evidence that digestive problems are more common in children with autism compared to other children, or that special diets work, contrary to claims by celebrities and vaccine naysayers.”

FTC: Virtual worlds pose real risks to minors
eSchoolNews, 12.15.09

From the article: "FTC report examining 27 virtual worlds reveals that minors are able to access sexual and violent content … Virtual worlds like Second Life offer educational benefits, but also easy access to adult content, the FTC says. Minors are able to access explicit content in virtual worlds without much difficulty, and the operators of those virtual worlds should take steps to keep that content away from children and teenagers, according to a new report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).”

Stephen Shore and Dr. Robert Naseef on YouTube
Stephen and Rob talk about emotions and autism with Dr. Dan Gottlieb. Their new DVD is now available at www.autismasperger.net. Rob, an ASCEND professional member, operates Alternative Choices, a private practice in Philadelphia. ASCEND keeps track of Stephen via Facebook. This week, he’s speaking at a conference in Singapore!

Preschool Social Skills Groups at The Art of Friendship
The Art of Friendship is expanding its preschool-age social skills program at its Ardmore and Paoli locations. This warm, supportive, and nurturing approach offers group art and play activities along with direct instruction of social awareness/skills. Weekly groups meet for an hour. In each session, parents receive feedback and handouts containing the social lessons, scripts and catch-phrases in order to help their child generalize the social skills from the group room to home and preschool settings. For more info click here or call 610-649-1080 x1.

Sibling Groups in Wayne
Dale Fisher, LC SW and Deirdre Miller, MA, run groups for siblings. Participants will meet other kids with brothers and sisters with special needs and share thoughts and feelings. The group for young children (4-6) meets the second Saturday of every month. An ongoing group for children 7-12 also runs on the second Saturday.
Call Dale Fisher at 610-668-8890 or email for more info or to reserve a space.

Dragonfly Forest offers free camping program
Committed to offering children with serious illnesses and disorders the opportunity to enjoy an overnight camp experience in an environment that is safe, equipped to meet a variety of physical, medical and psychological needs, nurturing, and filled with activities that allow each child to reach their "full fun." Two sessions will be offered this summer for kids on the autism spectrum who live in Philadelphia. Read about it here.

WatchKnow.org
From the website: “The Internet is full of useful information, but it's disorganized and often unreliable. Despite its problems, the potential of the Internet for education is especially huge. Imagine tapping into that potential. Imagine collecting all the best free educational videos made for children, and making them findable and watchable on one website. Then imagine creating many, many more such videos. The project's executive director is Larry Sanger, a Ph.D. philosopher who has become an ‘online knowledge organizer.’ He was co-founder of Wikipedia and founder of the Citizendium, among other knowledge-related projects.”

PA Autism Census Project Final Report
The purpose of this study was to obtain an estimate of the number of individuals living with ASD in Pennsylvania as well as to learn about demographic characteristics of that population. The intention was to reveal the scope of need for autism-specific services and programs and to inform policy development and the design of effective services. More info here.